Disconnecting switch



Nov. 20, 1956 p, HOYE 2,771,522

DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed May 17, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.|

INVENTOR.

PEDER B. HOYE BY Emu/K 1%, [33% $2M United States Patent "iceDISCONNECTING SWITCH Peder B. Hoye, Maywood, 111., assignor toElectrical Engineers Equipment Co., Melrose Park, Ill., a corporation ofIllinois Application May 17, 1955, Serial No. 516,670

6 Claims. (Cl. 20048) The present invention relates to disconnectingswitches for high tension electrical power installations, particularlyto air break switches of the type having a switch blade movable in anarc and rotatable about its own axis, and to improved operating meansfor such switches.

Air break switches of the character referred to are normally intendedfor outdoor installation, and in northern climates are therefore subjectto icing conditions. Accordingly, it is essential that the switch becapable of freeing itself of ice and like obstructions if the switch isto be practical. One type of switch widely employed in the art affords aparticularly efiicient solution to the problem by imparting to theswitch blade the characteristic movement of rotation within the switchcontact and arcuate movement toward and away from the contact to closeand open the switch. Assuming the switch to be closed, the same isopened by first imparting to the blade a predominantly rotary movementWithin the contact to shear any ice and free the blade end from thecontact, whereafter the blade is moved arcuately out of the contact toopen the switch. On closing of the switch, reverse operation occurs, i.e., the blade end is moved arcuately into the contact and then rotatedinto contact engagement. Because of this particular operation, theswitch further affords the distinct advantage of facilitating readyinsertion of the blade end into and ready removal of the blade end fromthe contact substantially without contact pressure thereon, and yetaffords an optimum high pressure small area engagement of the blade withthe contact in switch closed position.

same of beaver tail configuration to cooperate with a generallyU-shape-d contact having parallel legs or leaves. The beaver tail at theblade end has a minor dimension freely insertable between the legs ofthe contact and a major dimension that is greater than the normalspacing between the legs of the contact. The operating mechanism of theswitch is so constructed and arranged that the blade end is moved intothe contact at least with the beaver tail inclined to the legs of thecontact to accom modate ready insertion of the blade end into thecontact. Subsequently, the operating mechanism rotates the blade todispose the major dimension of the beaver tail blade end transversely ofthe contact leaves or legs, thus to force the blade into high pressuresmall area engagement with the contact. On switch opening movement, theoperating mechanism first rotates the blade to free the blade end fromthe high pressure engagement and thereafter moves the blade arcuatelyout of the contact.

in an early development of switches of this character, the operatingmeans or mechanism effected the above described rotary and arcuatemovements of theblade successively, but independently, so that bladerotation was effected entirely before removal of the blade end from thecontact, or entirely after entry of the blade end into the contact. Thisswitch afforded the advantages of high pressure, small area contact andice breaking on switch opening movement, but suffered theparticulandisad- This is accon'iplished by flattening the blade end orformingthe 2,771,522 Patented Nov. 20, 1956 vantage that it was notfully controlled, i. e., on closing movement of the blade, if thecontact were obstructed (such as by ice in an outdoor installation), theswitch blade could not be forced down through the obstruction by theoperating means, but instead, the operating means could rotate the bladeto complete blade movement even though the blade end were not in thecontact.

A further development in the art afforded blade control in the region ofthe switch contact both in the opening and closing directions. Thisswitch is characterized by operating means for effecting simultaneousrotation and arcuate swinging of the blade, which means comprises, interms of a conventional horizontal switch installation, a frame defininga horizontal pivot axis, a blade guide or hinge pivotally mounted on theframe, a blade carriage to which the blade is secured rotatably in theblade guide or hinge about an axis at right angles to the horizontalpivot axis, an operating crank rotatable about a vertical axis, andpivot means between the crank and blade carriage, the pivot means in thespecific embodiment being disposed with its axis at 45 to the horizontaland vertical, and the operating means being further characterized byintersection of the horizontal pivot axis of the blade guide or hinge,the axis of the blade, the vertical axis of rotation of the crank andthe axis of the pivot means in a common point. The switch as thusconstructed alfords particular advantages over the earlier developmentin the art in terms of blade control, for the blade in this switch ispositively forced or driven downwardly into the contact on switchclosing movement, and positively removed from the contact on switchopening movement. The rotary movement of the blade, while occurringsimultaneously with the arcuate movement thereof, predominates in theregion of the contact so that the beaver tail blade end is readilyinserted into and removed from the Contact and is rotated an adequateextent within the contact to attain the previously de scribed highpressure small area contact, and the desired ice breaking functions atthe switch contact both upon opening and closing movements of the switchblade. This switch has proven highly successful in use and has beenwidely adopted. However, the switch does suffer the disadvantage that itis not fully controlled throughout the full range of movement thereof.Specifically, in the full open position of the switch blade, the bladeextends vertically upward in axial alignment with the axis of rotationof the operating crank so that the operating mechanism. is disposed ondead center. Rotation of the operating crank to actuate the 45 pivotmeans can result in no more than rotation of the blade. This dead centerposition is also completely or partially reached in modifications of thedescribed switch operating mechanism attaining or approximating theaxial alignment of the blade and crank axes in switch open position. Toavoid the consequences of the defined dead center position, the saidoperating mechanism and most modifications thereof must includespecially provided kicker means or reaction means to move the switchblade out of its dead center position, and even with such means it isapparent that control of the blade becomes increasingly lessas the bladeapproaches or approximates dead center position.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the describeddisadvantages of prior developments in the art and to afiford a switchof the character defined including a switch blade that is fullycontrolled throughout'the complete range of movement thereof.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide.improved operating means or mechanism for switches of the characterdefined, which operating means or. mechanism by itself exerts fullcontrol over the blade inallpositionsof the blade,

Another object of the invention is to provide improved operatingmechanism for switches of the character defined atfording novelinterrelation of a switch blade, a blade guide or hinge, an operatingcrank and pivot means between the blade and crank whereby the axis ofthe blade does not coincide, align, or substantially align with the axisof rotation of the operating crank in any position of the blade, and, bythis interrelation, affording at all times an effective lever armbetween the blade and crank to maintain full control over the blade fromthe crank without the intervention of previously required kicker orreaction means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved operatingmechanism for switches of the character defined, particularly of thetype wherein the switch blade is swung in an arc and simultaneouslyrotated, affording, in addition to the advantages above described,improved operational characteristics in terms of increased bladerotation in proportion to arcuate movement of the blade during theinitial and final stages, respectively, of switch opening and switchclosing movements, thus to enhance and improve upon the previouslydefined basic operational characteristics of the described type ofswitch.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedair break disconnecting switch of efiicient, practical and highlyeconomical construction.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of preferred embodimentsof the invention.

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner ofmaking and using the improved disconnecting switch of the invention, Ishall describe, in connection with the accompanying drawings, preferredembodiments of the invention and preferred manners of making the same.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved disconnecting switch of theinvention, the View showing the switch blade in closed position in solidlines and in open position in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the improved operatingmechanism aiforded by the invention;

Figure 3 is a top view, partly in plan and partly in section, of themechanism shown in Figure 2 omitting the switch blade;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the operating mechanism;

Figure 5 is a section, taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 2,showing the operating crank or lever and indicating the arc of movementthereof;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a modification of the operatingmechanism shown in Figure 2 adapted particularly for higher capacityinstallations; and

Figure 7 is a graph showing the relation between blade rotation andarcuate movement as imparted to the blade by the operating mechanism ofthe invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, the switchof the invention is shown in a conventional horizontal installation asincluding a rigid base 10 to be mounted horizontally or vertically, anda first insulator stack 12 extending perpendicularly from one end of thebase and carrying at its outer end a generally U-shaped contact 14. Insubstantially spaced relation to the insulator stack 12, the basecarries a pair of parallel insulator stacks 16 and 18, the outboard one16 of which is stationary and the inner one 18 of which is rotatablymounted on the base 10. At its outer end, the stack 16 affords astationary support for an operating means or mechanism, indicatedgenerally at 20, having connection to a switch blade 22 for purposes ofsimultaneously rotating the blade and moving the same in an arc from theclosed position shown in solid lines to the open position shown indotted lines wherein the switch blade extends outwardly from andgenerally parallel to the insulator stack 18. The switch blade isflattened at its outer end to define a relatively thin, broad contactportion 23 adapted for high pressure engagement in the U-shaped contact14 in the manner and to attain the advantages pointed out hereinbefore.The rotatable insulator stack 18 is operatively connected at its outerend to the means or mechanism 20 to impart to the switch blade 22 thesimultaneous movements of rotation and arcuate swinging upon rotation ofthe stack 18.

The operating means or mechanism 20 is shown in greater detail inFigures 2 to 5 and comprises a frame 30, a blade guide or hinge member40, a blade carriage or arm member 50, and an operating crank or lever60. The frame 30 suitably comprises a metallic casting and includes aterminal end portion 31 fixedly secured, as by bolts, to the outer endof the stack 16 and defining a terminal pad 32. Forwardly of the portion31, the frame is bifurcated or of yoke form to define parallel arms 33extending upwardly and forwardly to a point above the rotatable stack18, from whence the arms extend downwardly and inwardly to joinintegrally in a bearing portion 34 rotatably receiving, in effect, theupper end of the rotatable insulator stack 18 to afford a firm supportfor both of the stacks 16 and 18 and the frame 30. In the portionthereof outwardly of the stack 18, the arms 33 of the frame 30 areprovided with aligned bores within which stub axles 35 are received todefine a horizontal pivot axis, generally at a right angle to the axisof rotation of the stack 18.

The blade guide or hinge member 40 may also be a metallic casting andincludes a central tubular body portion 41 and a pair of oppositelydisposed arms 42 of angle form. The arms 42 extend outwardly andrearwardly from the body 41 to constitute a generally U-shaped clevis,the arms at their outer ends receiving the stub axles 35 pivotally tomount the blade guide or hinge 40 on the frame 30.

The blade carriage or arm member 50, also a metallic casting, includes atubular body portion 51 having an outer diameter slightly less than theinner diameter of the body portion 41 of the blade hinge 40 and an innerdiameter equal approximately to the outer diameter of the switch blade22. The blade 22 is received in and carried by the body portion 51 ofthe carriage 50, the carriage being clamped to the blade adjacent but inspaced relation to one end of the blade :by means of a bolt 52. The bodyportion of the carriage, in turn, is rotatably received in the tubularbody portion 41 of the 'blade guide, bearing means being provided tojournal the carriage in the guide. To retain the carriage in the guide,the carriage includes a radial flange 54 adjacent one end of the tubularbody thereof to engage against one end of the body 41 of the guide orhinge, and at the other end of the hinge, a castellated nut 55 isthreaded on an extending end portion of the carriage body. Immediatelyrearwardly of the tubular body thereof, the carriage 50 includes anoperating arm 56 extending downwardly and rearwardly in angular relationto the body of the carriage, approximately at a 45 angle in theembodiments disclosed herein, although the angle is not particularlycritical. At its outer or lower end, the arm 56 includes a socket withinwhich is fixed a stem or extension 57, the purpose of which will becomeapparent as the description proceeds.

The operating crank or lever 60, like the other com ponents of theoperating mechanism, preferably comprises a metallic casting. The crankcomprises a gen.- erally circular body portion 61 which is secured, bybolts or the like, to the upper end of the rotatable insulator stack 18.The body 61 includes a central or axial upwardly projecting extension orstem 62 which is rotatably received in the bearing portion 34 of theframe 30 for the purpose previously pointed out, a roller bearing 63journalling the stem in the portion 34. To retain the stem in thebearing, a nut 64 is threaded to the upper end of the stem, and toshield the bearing 63, a washer 65 is disposed over the bearing beneaththe nut. The lever arm 66 of the crank extends radially outwardly fromthe body 61 and at its outer end is turned up at an angle complementaryto the angle of the carriage arm 56 to receive the arm or stem 57.Within the angular end portion thereof, the lever or crank arm 66 isrecessed and a noncorrosive spherical bearing 67 is mounted in therecess. The bearing 67 rotatably and slidably receives the stem 57 ofthe carriage arm 56 and due to its mounting couples the arm 56 and crank60 with accommodation for relative sliding, rotating and swivelingmovements. As'will be appreciated, if desired, the stern could be fixedto the crank, and the spherical bearing provided in the arm of the bladecarriage.

From the foregoing, it is to be appreciated that the operating mechanismas thus far disclosed comprises a stationary frame 30, a blade guide orhinge 40 pivotally mounted on the frame, a blade carriage 50 rotatablymounted on the hinge 40, the carriage 50 carrying the switch blade 22coaxially and mounting the switch blade for rotation about its own axis,and a rotatable operating crank 60 operatively connected to the carriage50. With the exceptionof the association of the crank 60 with the stem57 of the carriage 50, the elements described and their generalassociation are known in the art, and in the closed position of theswitch, as shown in solid lines in 'Figure 3 and in Figure 1, the pivotaxis of the guide or hinge, the axis of rotation of the carriage andblade and the axis of rotation of the crank are each disposed generallyat right angles to the other two axes, i. e., as shown in Figure 3, thepivot axis of the guide or hinge 40 is horizontal, the axis of rotationof the blade 22 and carriage 50 is horizontal and at right angles to thepivot axis of the guide, and the axis of rotation of the crank 60 isvertical. However, it is in terms of the association of the components30, 40, 50 and 60 that the present invention departs from and aifordssubstantial advantages over the prior art. Heretofo-re, it has beencustomary to dispose the three axes above defined and the axis of thecarriage arm 56 to intersect in a common point. In such relation, whenthe switch is opened, the blade moves into a vertical position whereinits axis is aligned with the axis of rotation of the crank. In somemodifications of the basic design, axes have been slightly oiT-se-t fromcommon intersection in the closed position of the switch, but in theopen position, the axis of the blade is aligned, or only slightly offsetfrom or related at a small angle to the axis of rotation of the crank.Because of this, the switch blade is disposed in, or substantiallydisposed in, a dead center position wherein the crank an only rotate theblade and loses positive control over arcuate movement of the blade.Because of this, prior art structures have required kicker means orreaction means to move the same oif dead center, or have .suifered thedisadvantage of exceedingly little blade control in switch openposition.

According to the present invention, positive control of all movement,and particularly arcuate movement, of the switch blade directly by thecrank is attained, and necessity for kicker or reaction means iseliminated. This is accomplished by offsetting the above defined axes inany one of several manners so that in switch open position the axis ofthe blade is generally parallel to but is offset by a substantialdistance from the axis of rotation of the crank, whereby an effectiveand controlling lever arm is maintained between the crank and bladecarriage in all positions of the blade.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the frame 30 isconstructed to support the blade guide or hinge 40 on a pivot axisdisposed a substantial distance from the axi of rotation of the crank 60in the direction away from the switch contact 14; the hinge 49 in turnis constructed tosupport the blade carriage 50 and the blade 22 forrotation about an axis intersecting the pivot axis of the hinge; and thecarriage arm 56 extends from a point forwardly of the hinge pivot axisrearwardly and downwardly beneath the pivot axis of the hinge. Thisaffords a particularly eflicient and practical arrangement insuring fullcontrol of the blade directly by the crank, and afiords the furtheradvantage of imparting a very substantial amount of rotation to theblade while imparting little arcuate movement to the blade in andadjacent switch closed position.

Referring now particularly to Figures 5 and 7, the operation of theimproved mechanism of the present invention is as follows: As is knownin the art, operating mechanism of the general character defined willimpart to the switch blade both rotary and arcuate movements, the twomovements securing simultaneously, but with one or the otherpredominating during various stages of operation. As shown in Figure 7,the arcuate movement of the switch blade, plotted against rotarymovement of the operating crank, is generally a parabolic function,whereas the rotary movement imparted to the blade is more nearly astraight line function. In Figure 5, the operating crank 60 is shown inswitch closed position and in such position the crank or lever arm isdisposed approximately 10 over-center with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the switch and thus approximately 10 overcenter with respect tothe vertex of the parabolic curve of arcuate movement. To prevent crankmovement beyond this over-travel position, the frame 30 includes a stopportion 36 extending forwardly from the bearing 34 thereof and the crank60 includes an upstanding tab 68 engaging the stop 36. As the crank isrotated, clockwise as shown in Figure 5, little arcuate movement isimparted to the blade, the blade in fact first tending to dip slightlydownwardly, in passing through the vertex of the curve, and then movingupwardly to a slight extent as the crank is moved approximately 20 tothe opposite side of center. During this period of crank rotation,substantial rotary movement is imparted to the switch blade 22, therearward setting of the blade carriage arm 56 resulting in aparticularly steep initial portion of the curve of blade rotation asshown in Figure 7, thus to aitord a great predominance of rotarymovement over arcuate movement in the initial stages of crank rotation.Specifically, before the blade rises 5 it rotates approximately 35.

In the closed position of the switch, the blade 22 is disposed with itsflattened contact portion 23 transversely of the legs of the U-shapedcontact 14, so that the edges of the portion 23 have high pressureengagement with the contact. As the blade is rotated, the pressure isrelieved due to the fact that the transverse dimension of the blade endis effectively decreased in relation to the contact, thus to free theblade end from the contact and accommodate ready removal of the bladeend from the contact. During this period, substantially all the powerinput to the crank, through the insulator stack 18, is utilized torotate the blade, thus assuring efiicient operation. Subsequently, theblade commences slowly to rise and continues to rotate, rotary movementstill predominating further to release the pressure of contactengagement, to move the blade clear of the contact, thus to open theswitch. Thereafter, as the crank 60 is rotated further in a clockwisedirection, the blade rises from the contact relatively rapidly in termsof crank rotation, and arcuate movement of the blade predominates overthe rotary movement until the blade attains full open position afterabout 120 crank rotation. Crank rotation through this angle eitectsapproximately blade rotation and movement of the blade through an arc ofapproximately In moving the switch blade from closed to open position,the distance between the crank arm 66 and the blade carriage becomesgreater, the crank and carriage are rotated relatively, and the angularrelation of the carriage arm to the crank changes, all of whichmovements are accommodated by the elongate extension '57 of the carriageand the spherical bearing 67 of the crank. When 7 the switch bladeattains its open position, the axis of the blade, and thus the axis ofrotation of the carriage 50, is disposed generally parallel to, but isoffset a sub stantial distance rearwardly from the axis of rotation ofthe crank 60 and tack 18. Due to this relationship, the crank has aneffective lever arm to the carriage and thus exerts full control overthe blade to commence return movement of the blade when desired uponreverse rotation of the crank. In all positions of the blade, the crankexerts full influence or control over the same.

To close the switch, the crank 60 is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection as shown in Figure 5, whereupon 'the crank, through the arm 56and carriage 50, positively drives the blade into the contact.Specifically, the blade is forced to complete both the arcuate androtary movements thereof before the crank is stopped in closed positionby virtue of the tab 68 engaging the stop 36. As the blade is movedarcuately into the contact, the flattened blade end 23 is inclined tothe legs of the contact 14 to facilitate ready entry of the blade end,whereupon the blade rotates into increasingly greater pressureengagement with the contact to wipe the contact portions clean. As theblade end is forced into deeply seating position in the contact, theblade is rotated a very substantial extent in relation to arcuatemovement of the blade, to complete the high pressure engagement with thecontact and to dispose the flattened blade end 23 transversely of thecontact as the crank is returned to the position shown in Figure 5.

As previously pointed out, the blade 22 at its opposite end extendsrearwardly from the carriage t and this portion of the blade is moved inan arc and rotated in the confines of the frame during the abovedescribed movements. To effect substantial direct connection between theswitch blade 22 and the terminal pad 32, to minimize transfer orexchange points, a contact 70 is provided within the frame 30 forcooperation with the tail end of the blade. Specifically, as shown inFigures 2 and 3, the angular portions of the arms 33 of the frame eachhave bolted thereto a contact leaf 71. The leaves 71 are thus opposedand are bolted to the arms 33 at their lower ends and extend upwardly tothe straight portion of the frame arms to engage opposite sides of theblade end in switch closed position. To bias the contact leaves 71 intoengagement with the blade, the frame arms 33 are each formed with asocket therein adapted for the reception of a coiled spring 72 to bearon the outer end of the respective contact leaf. To insure good contact,the leaves 71 are preferably provided with a silver inlay 73 at the endportions thereof, and the switch blade may include opposed ribs or beflattened to attain the same high pressure engagement with the contactsas described hereinbefore. However, I have found that adequate contactengagement may be attained at the base end of the Switchblade merelywith a tubular blade form. The contact leaves 71, being mounted on theframe 30, are thus directly connected to the terminal pad 32. Tocomplete the electrical circuit arrangement, the switch includes a sheetmetal slip ring member 75 bolted to the blade hinge 4t and having oneend engaging a stub axle 35 and the other end formed arcuately to bear'on the flange 54 of the blade carriage to afford, for protectivepurposes, a connection between the terminal 32 and the switch bladeafter the blade has cleared the contact 7 0.

The switch construction above described, as shown in Figures 2 to 5, isparticularly adapted for the lower capacities, including only one pairof contact leaves 71, a fairly short rearward blade end portion andbeing set fairly close to the tops of the insulator stacks 12, 16 and18. in higher capacities, more contact area is required. For thispurpose. as shown in Figure 6, the frame 30 of the operating mechanismof the invention is modified to carry two pairs of contact leaves 71,and to accommodate the greater length of blade end necessary to engagethe contacts 71, the frame is increased in height so that the blade endmay swing freely down and over the edge portions of the insulator stack18 in switch Open position. The blade carriage 50 and hinge 40 need notbe appreciably changed, except to accommodate a blade of largerdiameter, and to operate the resultant assembly a modified crank 60, ofgreater height than the previously described crank, is necessary. Inother respects, the structure and operation of the high capacity switchis the same as that of the lower capacity switch.

In view of the foregoing, it is to be appreciated that the presentinvention provides an improved disconnecting switch of particularlyeconomical and eflicient construction affording marked advantages in theart. Further, the invention provides an improved operating mechanism forswitches of the character referred to affording full blade control inall positions of the blade and imparting improved operationalcharacteristics to the blade.

While I have described what I regard to be preferred embodiments of myinvention, it will be apparent that various changes, rearrangements andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the scope ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a disconnecting switch having a switch blade rotatable about itsown axis and arcuately movable between two end positions, operatingmechanism for the blade comprising a frame, a blade hinge pivotallymounted on the frame, a blade carriage rotatably mounted on the hinge,and a rotatable operating crank operatively connected to the carriage,the pivot axis of said hinge and the axes of rotation of said carriageand said crank in one end position of the blade each being disposedsubstantially at right angles to the other two axes, one of said axes ofrotation substantially intersecting the pivot axis of said hinge and theother being substantially offset from said pivot axis; said carriageincluding a rigid angular extension and said crank including acomplementary extension, said extensions being operatively connected forrelative sliding, rotating and swiveling movement.

2 In a disconnecting switch having a switch blade rotatable about itsown axis and arcuately movable between two end positions, operatingmechanism for the blade comprising a frame, a blade hinge pivotallymounted on the frame, a blade carriage rotatably mounted on the hinge,and a rotatable operating crank operatively connected to the carriage,the pivot axis of said hinge and the axes of rotation of said carriageand said crank in one end position of the blade each being disposedsubstantially at right angles to the other two axes, at least one ofsaid axes of rotation being offset a significant distance from the pivotaxis of said hinge whereby said axes of rotation in the other endposition of the blade are disposed generally parallel and are spacedapart a substantial distance, said carriage including a rigid angularextension and said crank including a complementary extension, saidextensions being operatively connected for relative sliding, rotatingand swiveling movement.

3. In a disconnecting switch having a pair of spaced stationary contactsand a switch blade rotatable about its own axis and arcuately movablebetween an open position disengaged from the contacts and a closedposition wherein the blade engages said contacts at its opposite ends,operating mechanism for the blade comprising a frame, a blade hingepivotally mounted on the frame intermediate the stationary contacts, ablade carriage rotatably mounted on the hinge, the blade being fixed toand extending through said carriage to the opposite sides thereof toexpose the opposite ends of the blade for engagement with the contacts,a rotatable operating crank operatively connected to said carriage, thepivot axis of said hinge and the axes of rotation of said carriage andsaid crank in the closed position of the blade each being disposedsubstantially at right angles to the other two axes, at least one of thesaid axes of rotation being offset a significant distance from the pivotaxis of said hinge to dispose said axes of rotation, in the openposition of the blade, in generally parallel but significantly offsetrelation, said carriage including a rigid angular extension and saidcrank including a complementary extension, and means operativelyconnecting said extensions for relative sliding, rotating and swivelingmovement, whereby said crank is adapted to rotate and move the bladebetween its open and closed positions and maintains full control overthe blade in all positions thereof.

4. In a disconnecting switch having a switch blade rtatable about itsown axis and arcuately movable between two end positions, operatingmechanism for the blade comprising a stationary frame, a blade hingepivotally mounted on the frame, a blade carriage rotatably mounted onthe hinge coaxially of the switch blade, the blade being secured to saidcarriage, a rotatable operating crank, and pivot means operativelyconnecting said crank and said carriage, the pivot axis of said hingeand the axes of rotation of said carriage and said crank in one endposition of the blade each being disposed substantially at right anglesto the other two axes, the axis of rotation of said carriagesubstantially intersecting the pivot axis of said hinge and the axis ofrotation of said crank being substantially offset from said pivot axis.

5. In a disconnecting switch having a stationary contact and a switchblade rotatable about its own axis into and out of high pressureengagement with the contact and arcuately movable into and out of switchclosed position in the contact, operating mechanism for the bladecomprising a stationary frame spaced from the contact, a blade hingepivotally mounted on said frame, a blade carriage rotatably mounted onsaid hinge coaxially of the blade, the blade being fixed to saidcarriage, the axis of rotation of said carriage substantiallyintersecting the pivot axis of said hinge at substantially a right anglethereto, a rotatable operating crank disposed in spaced relation to saidhinge and said carriage, the axis of rotation of said crank in theclosed position of the switch extending generally at a right angle toboth the pivot axis of said hinge and the axis of rotation of saidcarriage and being spaced substantially from said pivot axis in thedirection of the stationary contact, and pivot means operativelyconnecting said crank and said carriage, said pivot means in the closedposition of the switch extending between said crank and said carriage tothe side of the axis of rotation of said crank opposite the stationarycontact and accommodating variation in the distance between saidcarriage and said crank during movement of the switch blade.

6. In a disconnecting switch having a stationary contact and a switchblade rotatable about its own axis into and out of high pressureengagement with the contact and arcuately movable into and out of switchclosed position in the contact, operating mechanism for the bladecomprising a stationary frame spaced from the contact, a blade hingepivotally mounted on said frame, a blade carriage rotatably mounted onsaid hinge coaxially of the blade, the blade being fixed to saidcarriage, the axis of rotation of said carriage substantiallyintersecting the pivot axis of said hinge at substantially a right anglethereto, a rotatable operating crank disposed in spaced relation to saidhinge and said carriage, the axis of rotation of said crank in theclosed position of the switch extending generally at a right angle toboth the pivot axis of said hinge and the axis of rotation of saidcarriage and being spaced substantially from said pivot axis in thedirection of the stationary contact, and an arm extending angularly fromsaid carriage and slidably and rotatably received in the outer endportion of said crank, said arm in the closed position of the switchextending from a portion of said carriage to the contact side of thepivot axis of said hinge to the opposite side of said pivot axis forconnection to said crank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Gussowet a1. Aug. 22, 1950 Hollander Apr. 26, 1955

